Some lottery prize winners may choose to remain anonymous, and the department’s disclosure of their personally identifiable information is limited.
Sec. 466.411. CHOICE BY CERTAIN PRIZE WINNERS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), a natural person who is a prize winner of a lottery prize in an amount equal to $1 million or more, or who is an owner of a beneficial interest in a legal entity that is a prize winner of a lottery prize in an amount equal to $1 million or more, may on the date the winner claims the prize choose to remain anonymous and prohibit all personally identifiable information from being released to the public. (b) The department may release or disclose the personally identifiable information of a natural person who is a lottery prize winner if the person chooses to have the prize paid in periodic installments. The department may only disclose the information on or after the 30th day after the date the person claims the lottery prize if the person chooses to remain anonymous under Subsection (a). (c) For purposes of this section, the amount of a lottery prize is the total amount of prize money paid to a prize winner for a single lottery prize claim, whether paid in one payment or in periodic installments, before deducting any federal tax withholdings or other deductions required by law. (d) This section does not prohibit release of a natural person prize winner's city or county of residence or prevent the department from releasing the person's personally identifiable information to the Health and Human Services Commission or as necessary to comply with Section 466.407 or 466.4075. Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 689 (H.B. 59), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2017. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1160 (S.B. 3070), Sec. 41, eff. June 20, 2025.